Civilians? Save us! You're actually, unironically our only hope at getting things back online! At least, right now.
We already failed to restart the Fabricators. I don't think we have the capacity right now to do a more detailed analysis and partial activation, we couldn't with the Defense Screen.
[X] Try to observe what the civilians are doing with the enemy vehicles.
Honestly, we're also working with plasma cannons, which don't really work like normal cannons at all.
Normal cannons are heavy because they need to resist the massive pressure that's involved in the launching of a shell. Not only would the advanced materials used in the construction of our armor be sufficient to make a cannon out of waferthin material, but the entire working principle is different.
The Hellbores, as far as I found, consist out of a deuterium particle launched by a railgun and then ignited into fusion by a laser. This means that the launching system can be extremely lightweight. The main issue would be to get a laser both powerfull and precise and versatile enough to reliably trigger fusion (Something which in my opinion is impossible, due to such issues as atmosphere scattering the laser before it can reach the target, and the fact that you can't create an implosion by firing from one direction.)
We already failed to restart the Fabricators. I don't think we have the capacity right now to do a more detailed analysis and partial activation, we couldn't with the Defense Screen.
"And lo did the mighty tank shudder to a halt, only for a whine of power to begin in it's systems, deep in the hull. With roaring cry of energy, massive shields erupted forth, and even to this day does the tank stand, safe, long after the annihilation of the planet"
Honestly, we're also working with plasma cannons, which don't really work like normal cannons at all.
Normal cannons are heavy because they need to resist the massive pressure that's involved in the launching of a shell. Not only would the advanced materials used in the construction of our armor be sufficient to make a cannon out of waferthin material, but the entire working principle is different.
The Hellbores, as far as I found, consist out of a deuterium particle launched by a railgun and then ignited into fusion by a laser. This means that the launching system can be extremely lightweight. The main issue would be to get a laser both powerfull and precise and versatile enough to reliably trigger fusion (Something which in my opinion is impossible, due to such issues as atmosphere scattering the laser before it can reach the target, and the fact that you can't create an implosion by firing from one direction.)
They fire a gigawatt laser before the main shot to create a vacuum for the plasma projectile to travel through. No atmospheric scattering. Plus, as I understand it the deuterium detonation occurs in the barrel, with the resulting plasma being the thing that is accelerated. Don't ask me how that would work, plasma physics is most definitely not my thing.
Everything you could ever want to know about hellbores can probably be found here, as explained by the patron saint of Bolos, Steel Warrior. They point out earlier in the thread that hellbore calibers really don't make much sense, but this is because they were never intended to. The numbers existed only to make the guns seem powerful to the reader, not because there was any physics to it.
Yes, I'd imagine it's quite annoying when taken as a binge. The annoyance was by design though, and will go away once the group finds a way to patch up the tank's Cognitive processes.
I've also changed a lot, especially with regard to tactics and deployment. Don't assume because something was true in Bolo, Ogre, or any other source material that it will be true here. I frequently change these sorts of things specifically to mess with people who try to metagame.
[X] Try to observe what the civilians are doing with the enemy vehicles.
"I...cannot stop them...but I can...watch over them. Perhaps...I will be able to...find out what...they are doing with my salvage. If nothing else...it will give me something...to do."
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"I...had forgotten I...had these. Without the resources...to recreate what has...been destroyed...they can do little to repair me...and they are still useful...as another pair of eyes. The civilians are...reacting to my drone's...presence, moving away...from it. This...is unfortunate. I cannot observe...their actions if they...stop whenever my...drones are present. My psychological profiles are...damaged. I do not...understand their behavior. The drone is hovering at...sufficient altitude for them...to easily work around it. Its movement speed...is extremely slow...and it has no weapons. Even an augmented...individual would be...able to destroy it. Why-ah. They are...returning to their tasks now. Good."
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++ Alert. Civilian personnel detected in Fabrication Unit. ++
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"Forgive me...Commander. Again...I was too stupid...too slow... I was too focused...on the drone...I did not see the...civilian enter my Fabrication Unit. It...is classified equipment...and is damaged even beyond...my ability to run diagnostics. Whoever is in there...is in grave danger because of my error...and I can do nothing to help them."
"The final wreck...has been recovered...but I cannot bring myself...to care. My maintenance drone is...now reporting...that the others have begun...cutting open the first gunship...extracting parts...from its interior...but I do not care. A civilian is in danger. I must...do something. I cannot fail you again...Commander. They have...almost completely ignored me...in the past, but perhaps...if I warn those in the hanger...of the danger their companion...is now in... No...I am too late...they are dispersing...taking the materials they pulled...from the gunship back...into the dead zone...they used to access...my hanger. Too slow...always too slow..."
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++ Power restored to Gravity Shaft 06 ++
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"What is...this? Someone...has reactivated the... gravity shaft leading to...my Fabrication Unit. The civilians...have left the dead zone... They are still carrying the .. equipment they took from the...gunships. What are...they doing? They are moving further...inside me. No, they cannot...be heading for my Fabrication Unit? It...is not safe there. They must...not. But the equipment they...have recovered. Do they mean to...attempt repairing the damaged Unit? My directives are...clear. Even if it would greatly help me...I cannot allow them to place themselves...in danger...nor can I let them have access...to classified equipment. They are not...my crew."
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++ Activating security bulkheads. ++
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"I am sorry. The system...you are attempting to access...is classified military equipment. You do not have...the required clearance. In addition...it has been critically damaged...and may pose a serious risk...to your health. I thank you...for attempting to fix me...but I am afraid...I cannot allow you to continue."
"It is...no use. My bulkheads can only completely seal...certain areas, and they are...avoiding them deliberately. Again, I cannot stop them...only slow them. I am sorry...Commander...my weakness has caused me...to be unable to fulfill...two of my primary directives. Please...forgive me...I...tried..."
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++ Critical disturbance detected in cognitive matrix. Initiating temporary shutdown to prevent damage to personality construct. ++
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"The darkness...is coming again... Commander? This time...can I...dream...?"
Dream about...
[ ] Better days.
[ ] Duty and fire.
[ ] Shades of the present.
[ ] Nothing.
] Restart in Safe Mode with Command Prompt.
